Music

A Prayer for Church Musicians and Artists

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Church of the Ascension has long been known for upholding the highest standards of liturgical music. Organist David Schrader, Choirmaster Thomas Wikman, and the Church of the Ascension Choir "perfect the praises" offered by the faithful, using excellent compositions of many composers from all eras of church music.

The full choir sings during Solemn High Masses at 11 a.m. on Sundays and at 6:30 p.m. on principal holy days from the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel (Sept. 29) until the Feast of Corpus Christi (the ninth Sunday after Easter Day). Typically 17-19 singers, all professional vocalists, sing a choral setting of the Kyrie, Sanctus/Benedictus, and Agnus Dei of the Mass ordinary, along with one or two anthems or motets. At all Solemn High Masses throughout the year, men of the choir chant the traditional Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, and Communion chants of the Roman Gradual, with the congregation singing all of the Mass ordinary. The annual Advent Sunday Festival of Lessons and Carols is a particularly well-attended event of the choir's season, on the First Sunday of Advent in the afternoon.